U.S. patent number 9,550,446 [Application Number 14/854,273] was granted by the patent office on 2017-01-24 for cargo restraint device.
This patent grant is currently assigned to LOGISTICK, INC.. The grantee listed for this patent is LOGISTICK, INC.. Invention is credited to Nicholas Kanczuzewski, John E. Townsend.
United States Patent |
9,550,446 |
Kanczuzewski , et
al. |
January 24, 2017 |
Cargo restraint device
Abstract
A device for engaging an elongated support for restraining cargo
for use in a container having corrugated or flat walls. The device
is securable selectively to a peak or a trough of the corrugated
wall or to the flat wall. The device may be engageable selectively
to an elongated support in the form of a 2.times.4 or an elongated
support in the form of a 4.times.4.
Inventors: |
Kanczuzewski; Nicholas
(Mishawaka, IN), Townsend; John E. (Paw Paw, MI) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
LOGISTICK, INC. |
South Bend |
IN |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
LOGISTICK, INC. (South Bend,
IN)
|
Family
ID: |
57794927 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/854,273 |
Filed: |
September 15, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60P
7/15 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60P
7/15 (20060101); F16M 13/02 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;248/200.1,351,354.1,354.5,354.6,354.7 ;410/143,151,152 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Marsh; Steven
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A device for engaging an elongated support for restraining cargo
in a container having at least one corrugated wall, the device
comprising: a sleeve member having a base, a pair of parallel
spaced lateral support walls extending from the base, a ledge
extending from the base and interconnecting the pair of lateral
support walls, the pair of lateral support walls, the ledge and the
base defining a cavity for receiving an end of the elongated
support, the cavity having a cavity width extending between the
lateral support walls, the base having a securing surface facing
opposite the cavity for securing the device to the corrugated wall,
the securing surface having a securing surface width, the device
having a length and the securing surface width extends
substantially the entire length of the device, the securing surface
width being less than the cavity width.
2. A device for engaging an elongated support for restraining cargo
in a container having at least one corrugated wall, the device
comprising: a sleeve member having a base, a pair of parallel
spaced lateral support walls extending from the base, a ledge
extending from the base and interconnecting the pair of lateral
support walls, the pair of lateral support walls, the ledge and the
base defining a cavity for receiving an end of the elongated
support, the cavity having a cavity width extending between the
lateral support walls, the base having a securing surface facing
opposite the cavity for securing the device to the corrugated wall,
the securing surface having a securing surface width, the securing
surface width being less than the cavity width, the sleeve member
further having a pair of opposed base walls extending at an angle
from the lateral support walls toward the securing surface defining
a pair of voids extending along a length of the securing
surface.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein the support walls have a length
extending along a length of the device and the securing surface has
a length extending along the length of the device, the length of
the securing surface being greater than the length of each of the
parallel walls.
4. The device of claim 1 further including an extension portion
extending from the ledge opposite the cavity along the length of
the device.
5. The device of claim 4 further including a gusset extending from
the ledge to the extension portion.
6. The device of claim 4 wherein the extension portion includes a
tab adjacent an end of the extension portion for facilitating
separation of the device from the wall.
7. The device of claim 4 wherein the securing surface extends along
a bottom of the extension portion.
8. The device of claim 1 further including a tab adjacent the
securing surface for facilitating separation of the device from the
corrugated wall.
9. The device of claim 1 wherein the cavity has an open side spaced
from the ledge and the base includes a ramp positioned adjacent the
open side for facilitating engagement of the elongated support with
the device, the securing surface extending along the ramp.
10. The device of claim 9 further including an extension portion
extending from the ledge opposite the ramp, the securing surface
extending from along a bottom of the ramp to along a bottom of the
extension portion.
11. The device of claim 1 wherein the base defines a prying slot
contiguous with the cavity for facilitating removal of the
elongated support.
12. A device for engaging an elongated support for restraining
cargo in a container having at least one corrugated wall, the
device comprising: a sleeve member having a base, a pair of
parallel spaced lateral support walls extending from the base, a
ledge extending from the base and interconnecting the pair of
lateral support walls, the pair of lateral support walls, the ledge
and the base defining a cavity for receiving an end of the
elongated support, the cavity having a cavity width extending
between the lateral support walls, the base having a securing
surface facing opposite the cavity for securing the device to the
corrugated wall, the securing surface having a securing surface
width, the securing surface width being less than the cavity width,
the sleeve member further having a plurality of teeth for engaging
the elongated support for securing the elongated support in the
cavity.
13. A device for engaging an elongated support for restraining
cargo in a container having at least one corrugated wall, the
device comprising: a sleeve member having a base, a pair of
parallel spaced lateral support walls extending from the base, a
ledge extending from the base and interconnecting the pair of
lateral support walls, the pair of lateral support walls, the ledge
and the base defining a cavity for receiving an end of the
elongated support, the cavity having a cavity width extending
between the lateral support walls, the base having a securing
surface facing opposite the cavity for securing the device to the
corrugated wall, the securing surface having a securing surface
width, the securing surface width being less than the cavity width,
the sleeve member further having first and second teeth disposed at
two different positions along a length of the base, the teeth for
selectively engaging elongated supports of different sizes.
14. The device of claim 13 wherein the base defines a prying slot
contiguous with the cavity for facilitating removal of the
elongated support of different sizes, the prying slot extending
along a length of the base from adjacent a front of the base to
beyond the first and second sets of teeth.
15. A device for engaging an elongated support for restraining
cargo in a container having at least one corrugated wall, the
device comprising: a sleeve member having a base, a pair of
parallel spaced lateral support walls extending from the base, a
ledge extending from the base and interconnecting the pair of
lateral support walls, the pair of lateral support walls, the ledge
and the base defining a cavity for receiving an end of the
elongated support, the cavity having a cavity width extending
between the lateral support walls, the base having a securing
surface facing opposite the cavity for securing the device to the
corrugated wall, the securing surface having a securing surface
width, the securing surface width being less than the cavity width,
the sleeve member further having first and second pairs of teeth
for selectively engaging elongated supports of different sizes.
16. The device of claim 1 wherein each of the lateral support walls
has an outer surface opposite the cavity having an engaging
structure for engaging a support structure selectively securable to
the engaging structure.
17. The device of claim 16 wherein the engaging structure extends
substantially along a height of the lateral support wall and has a
T-shaped cross section.
18. The device of claim 1 wherein the cavity is configured to
selectively receive the end of a 2.times.4 or a 4.times.4 as the
elongated support to selectively engage the 2.times.4 or
4.times.4.
19. The device of claim 1 wherein the securing surface includes an
adhesive for securing the device selectively to the wall.
20. In combination with a container including at least one
corrugated wall having a plurality of peaks and troughs and at
least one flat wall, a device for selectively engaging an elongated
support for restraining cargo in the container, the device
comprising a sleeve member having a base, a pair of parallel spaced
lateral support walls extending from the base, a ledge extending
from the base and interconnecting the pair of lateral support
walls, the pair of lateral support walls, the ledge and the base
defining a cavity for receiving an end of the elongated support,
the cavity having a cavity width extending between the lateral
support walls and having an open side spaced from the ledge, the
base including a securing surface facing opposite the cavity for
selectively securing the device to the corrugated wall or the flat
wall, the securing surface having a securing surface width, the
device having a length and the securing surface width extends
substantially the entire length of the device, the securing surface
width being less than the cavity width and less than each of a
width of one of the peaks and a width of one of the troughs and is
securable selectively to one of the peaks or one of the troughs
when the device is being secured to the corrugated wall.
21. In combination with a container including at least one
corrugated wall having a plurality of peaks and troughs and at
least one flat wall, a device for selectively engaging an elongated
support for restraining cargo in the container, the device
comprising a sleeve member having a base, a pair of parallel spaced
lateral support walls extending from the base, a ledge extending
from the base and interconnecting the pair of lateral support
walls, the pair of lateral support walls, the ledge and the base
defining a cavity for receiving an end of the elongated support,
the cavity having a cavity width extending between the lateral
support walls and having an open side spaced from the ledge, the
base including a securing surface facing opposite the cavity for
selectively securing the device to the corrugated wall or the flat
wall, the securing surface having a securing surface width
substantially along a length of the securing surface, the securing
surface width being less than the cavity width and less than each
of a width of one of the peaks and a width of one of the troughs
and is securable selectively to one of the peaks or one of the
troughs when the device is being secured to the corrugated wall,
the device further including a pair of opposed base walls extending
at an angle from the lateral support walls toward the securing
surface defining a pair of voids extending along a length of the
securing surface.
22. The combination of claim 20 wherein the support walls have a
length extending along a length of the device and the securing
surface has a length extending along the length of the device, the
length of the securing surface being greater than the length of
each of the parallel walls.
23. The combination of claim 20 further including an extension
portion extending from the ledge opposite the cavity along the
length of the device, the extension portion including a tab
adjacent an end of the extension portion for facilitating
separation of the device from the wall and the securing surface
extends along a bottom of the extension portion.
24. The combination of claim 20 wherein the cavity has an open side
spaced from the ledge and the base includes a ramp positioned
adjacent the open side for facilitating engagement of the elongated
support with the device, the securing surface extending along the
ramp.
25. The combination of claim 1 wherein the base includes first and
second teeth disposed at two different positions along a length of
the base, the teeth for selectively engaging elongated supports of
different sizes.
26. The combination of claim 25 wherein the base defines a prying
slot contiguous with the cavity for facilitating removal of the
elongated support of different sizes, the prying slot extending
along a length of the base from adjacent a front of the base to
beyond the first and second sets of teeth.
27. The combination of claim 20 wherein each of the lateral support
walls has an outer surface opposite the cavity having an engaging
structure for engaging a support structure selectively securable to
the engaging structure.
28. The combination of claim 27 wherein the engaging structure
extends substantially along a height of the lateral support wall
and has a T-shaped cross section.
29. The combination of claim 20 wherein the cavity is configured to
selectively receive the end of a 2.times.4 or a 4.times.4 as the
elongated support to selectively engage the 2.times.4 or 4.times.4.
Description
The present disclosure relates generally to a device, assembly and
method for restraining cargo within a container.
BACKGROUND
Cargo transported for commercial and other uses is often shipped in
semi-trailers or other trucks, railcars, ships, aircraft or other
containers. In most instances, shifting or translation of cargo
within the container can occur during shipping which can lead to
damage. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,533,513, 6,086,299 and 5,494,389, disclose
cargo retention devices that have been well received in the
shipping industry. A pair of such cargo retention devices may be
secured on opposed walls of the shipping container, and an
elongated support in the form of a wood beam or the like is
positioned across the bed of the shipping vehicle and engaged with
the cargo retention devices to secure cargo. These devices are less
effective, however, when the walls of the shipping container are
corrugated because these devices are better suited for securement
to flat walls.
SUMMARY
The present disclosure relates to a device for engaging an
elongated support for restraining cargo in a container having at
least one corrugated wall forming a plurality of peaks and troughs.
The device comprises a sleeve member having a base, a pair of
parallel spaced lateral support walls extending from the base, a
ledge extending from the base and interconnecting the pair of
lateral support walls, the ledge and the base defining a cavity for
receiving an end of the elongated support, the cavity having a
cavity width extending between the lateral support walls. The base
also includes a securing surface facing opposite the cavity for
securing the device to the corrugated wall. The securing surface
has a securing surface width substantially along a length of the
securing surface that is less than the cavity width. The sleeve
member is configured to be secured selectively to one of the peaks
or one of the troughs. The securing surface width is no greater
than each of a width of the peak and a width of the trough.
The device may also include a pair of opposed base walls extending
at an angle from the lateral support walls toward the securing
surface defining a pair of gaps extending along a length of the
securing surface. The base walls are configured to be received by a
canyon defined by the corrugated wall when the sleeve member is
engaged with the trough. The lateral support walls may have a
length extending along a length of the device and the securing
surface may have a length extending along the length of the device,
with the length of the securing surface being greater than the
length of each of the parallel walls. The cavity has an open side
spaced from the ledge and the base may include a ramp positioned
adjacent the open side for facilitating engagement of the elongated
support with the device. The device also may include an extension
portion extending from the ledge opposite the cavity along the
length of the device and one or more gussets that includes a pry
tab for facilitating separation of the device from the wall. The
securing surface may extend from along a bottom of the ramp to
along a bottom of the extension portion.
The device may include a plurality of teeth for engaging the
elongated support for securing the elongated support in the cavity.
The teeth may be disposed at two different positions along the
length of the base for selectively engaging elongated supports of
different sizes. The base may define a prying slot contiguous with
the cavity for facilitating removal of the elongated support. The
prying slot may extend along a length of the base from adjacent a
front of the base to beyond the first and second sets of teeth so
that the prying slot can be used to remove different elongated
supports of different sizes.
Each of the lateral support walls has an outer side opposite the
cavity that may include an engaging structure having a T-shaped
cross section for engaging a cargo restraint bracket or other
support structure that is selectively securable to the engaging
structure. The engaging structure may extend substantially along a
height of the respective lateral support wall. The cavity may, for
example, be configured to selectively receive a wood 2.times.4 or a
4.times.4. Another device can be secured on the other corrugated
wall so that the elongated support is engaged with both walls and
extends across the bed of the truck.
Features and advantages of the disclosure will be set forth in part
in the description which follows and the accompanying drawings
described below, wherein an embodiment of the disclosure is
described and shown, and in part will become apparent upon
examination of the following detailed description taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a partial view of a shipping container and a cargo
restraint assembly and an elongated support being used with another
cargo restraint assembly (not shown) for restraining cargo in the
shipping container in accordance with an illustrated embodiment of
the present disclosure;
FIG. 2 is an exploded view illustrating the cargo restraint
assemblies and the elongated support and also illustrating the
cargo restraint brackets of the cargo restraint assemblies
separated from the cargo restraint devices;
FIG. 3 is a top view of a corrugated wall illustrating one of the
cargo restraint assemblies of FIG. 2 secured to the corrugated
wall, with the cargo restraint device secured to a peak of the
corrugated wall and the cargo restraint bracket secured to a trough
of the corrugated wall adjacent the peak;
FIG. 4 is a top view of a corrugated wall illustrating one of the
cargo restraint assemblies of FIG. 2 secured to the corrugated
wall, with the cargo restraint device secured to the trough of the
corrugated wall and the cargo restraint bracket secured to a peak
of the corrugated wall adjacent the peak;
FIG. 5(a) is a side view of the cargo restraint device of one of
the cargo restraint assemblies of FIG. 2 and the elongated support
in the form of a wood 2.times.4 engaged with the cargo restraint
device;
FIG. 5(b) is a side view of the cargo restraint device of one of
the cargo restraint assemblies of FIG. 2 and the elongated support
in the form of a wood 4.times.4 engaged with the cargo restraint
device;
FIG. 6 is a plan view of the cavity side of one of the cargo
restraint assemblies of FIG. 2;
FIG. 7 is a section view taken along the lines 7-7 of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a section view taken along the lines 8-8 of FIG. 6;
and
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the cargo restraint bracket of one
of the cargo restraint assemblies of FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a pair of cargo restraint assemblies 10
and an elongated support 12 for restraining cargo in a shipping
container 14 having a pair of opposed walls in the form of
corrugated walls 16. Each cargo restraint assembly 10 includes a
cargo restraint device 20 and a cargo restraint bracket 22
engagably with the cargo restraint device. The cargo restraint
bracket 22 may be omitted in some applications.
In the illustrated embodiment, the pair of cargo restraint
assemblies 10 is secured to the opposed corrugated walls 16 of the
container 14 and is engaged with the elongated support 12, with the
elongated support 12 extending elevated across the bed of the
container 14. The cargo restraint assembly 10 and the elongated
support 12 in accordance with the present disclosure may be used
for limiting or otherwise restraining the shifting of cargo being
transported by or within the container 14, which may be in the form
of any shipping vehicle or other container, such as, for example,
any type of truck, railcar, ship or aircraft or other shipping
vehicle.
The opposed corrugated walls 16 may comprise any suitable
corrugated structure known in the art or otherwise. Each corrugated
wall 16 includes a plurality of peaks 30, a plurality of troughs
32, and a plurality of corrugation walls 34 extending at an angle
from the peaks to the troughs and interconnecting the peaks and
troughs. The peaks 30, troughs 32 and corrugation walls 34 define a
plurality of canyons 36. The corrugation walls 34 may extend at any
suitable angle from the peaks 30 to the troughs 32 and may
terminate on either end in rounded corners or sharp corners. Each
peak 30 has a peak width. Each trough 32 has a trough width that
may be the substantially the same as the peak width. Each canyon 36
has a canyon width that decreases as it extends from the peak 30 to
the trough 32. The corrugations may, for example, be corrugated
walls of the type associated with containers used by rail owned or
rail associated carriers such as, for example, Norfolk Southern,
Union Pacific, CSX, BNSF, CN, or CP, or freight companies such as,
for example, JB Hunt, Schneider National, Hub Group, XPO Logistics,
Swift Transportation, Werner, Knight Transportation, C.H. Robinson
or APL Logistics. The corrugations may have any other suitable
configurations. Walls 16 may instead by flat walls.
In the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, the cargo
restraint device 20 comprises generally a sleeve member 40
including a base 42, a pair of parallel spaced lateral support
walls 44 and a ledge 46 extending from the base and interconnecting
the pair of spaced lateral support walls. The lateral support walls
44 and the ledge 46 extend away from a top of the base 42 and
define an open sided cavity 50 for receiving the end of the
elongated support 12 to engage the elongated support. The base 42
includes a ramp 52 adjacent the open side of the cavity 50 and an
extension member 54 extending from the ledge 46 on the opposite
side of the cavity 50 along the length of the base. The base 42
also includes a gusset 56 interconnecting the ledge 46 and the
extension member 54. The illustrated base 42 comprises a series of
struts 58 extending longitudinally and laterally to provide
sufficient strength while also affording manufacturing economies.
The cargo restraint device 20 may have other configurations in
accordance with other embodiments of the present disclosure.
The base 42 also includes a securing surface 60 associated with a
bottom of the base, extending along substantially the entire length
of the base, for selectively securing the cargo restraint device 20
to one of the peaks 30 or one of the troughs 32 of one of the
corrugated walls 16 of the container 14 or to a flat wall. Instead,
if the wall of the container is flat, the securing surface 60 may
be secured to the flat wall. The securing surface 60 faces opposite
the cavity 50. In the illustrated embodiment, the securing surface
60 is longer than the lateral support walls 44 and extends
substantially the entire length of the base 42, from along a bottom
of the lead end of the ramp 52 to along a bottom of the extension
member 54. The securing surface 60 has a width the same or slightly
less than each of the peak width and the trough width to facilitate
securement to the peak 30 or trough 32 if the cargo restraint
device is being secured to a corrugated wall. The extension member
54 terminates in a pry tab 62 defining an opening for facilitating
removal of the cargo restraint device 20 or cargo restraint
assembly 10 from the corrugated wall 16 with any suitable tool or
other device or by hand. The base 42 may have other configurations
in accordance with other embodiments of the present disclosure.
The securing surface 60 may include an adhesive for securing the
securing surface selectively to the wall. The adhesive may be in
any suitable form. The adhesive may, for example, be in the form of
an acrylic based or rubber based adhesive. A removable release
liner may also be included. After removal of the release liner, the
cargo restraint device 20 can be pressed against one of the walls
16 of the container 14 to selectively secure it to the peak 30 or
trough 32 or, alternatively, to a flat wall. The adhesive may be
instead disposed directly on the rear surface, may be in the form
of a two-sided tape with a removable release liner, or may be in
any other suitable form.
The width of the cavity 50 is greater than the width of the
securing surface 60 to accommodate elongated supports 12 having a
lateral dimension greater than the width of the securing surface
60. The base 42 also includes a pair of base walls 80 extending
from the lateral support walls toward the securing surface 60 at an
obtuse angle. The width of the base 42 as measured from the outside
of the base walls 80 as the base walls extend from the lateral
support walls 44 to the securing surface 60 decreases to form a
pair of voids 82 on opposed sides of the base 42 such that the base
walls can be received by the canyon 36 if the sleeve member 40 is
secured to one of the troughs 32.
The illustrated sleeve member 40 is sized and configured to
selectively receive in the cavity 50 as the elongated support 12
either a wood 2.times.4 or a wood 4.times.4 (see, e.g., FIGS. 5(a)
and 5(b)) even though the lateral dimension of either such support
may exceed a peak width or a trough width. The cavity 50 can
receivably engage an elongated support 12 having a lateral
dimension greater the width of the securing surface 120. In the
case of the wood 2.times.4, the longer side of the 2.times.4
extends along the width of the cavity 50. The base 42 includes a
pair of teeth 90 to define a cavity 92 within cavity 50 for
receivably engaging a 4.times.4 and another pair of teeth 94 to
define a cavity 96 within cavity 50 for engaging a 2.times.4. The
base 42 also defines a pry slot 100 contiguous with the cavity 50
for facilitating removal of the elongated support 12. The pry slot
100 extends along the length of the base from or otherwise adjacent
a front end of the ramp 52 to beyond both pairs of teeth 90 and 94
and is disposed between teeth 90 and between teeth 94 so that the
prying slot 100 can be used to facilitate removal of either a
2.times.4 or a 4.times.4, depending upon which elongated support 12
is selected for installation. The sleeve member 40 may have other
configurations and may be configured to receive other elongated
supports in accordance with other embodiments of the present
disclosure.
The sleeve member 40 also includes an engaging member in the form
of a connector 110 on the outside of each lateral support wall 44
removably attachable and slidably engageable with the cargo
restraint bracket 22. In the illustrated embodiment, the cargo
restraint bracket 22 is slidable relative to the sleeve member 40
of the cargo restraint device 20 such that it can be positioned
anywhere along the length of the connector 110. For example, the
cargo restraint bracket 22 can be positioned such that it can be
secured on a trough 32 when the sleeve member 40 is secured to an
adjacent peak 30; the cargo restraint bracket can be positioned
such that it can be secured to a peak when the sleeve member is
secured to an adjacent trough; or the cargo restraint bracket can
be positioned such that the securing surfaces 60 and 120 are
substantially flush when the cargo restraint assembly 10 is secured
to a flat wall.
Each of the illustrated connectors 110 has a T-shaped cross
section. The connectors 110 may extend from the top of the lateral
support wall 44 toward the bottom of the lateral support wall
substantially the entire height of the lateral support wall to
provide a rigid engagement with the cargo restraint bracket 22. The
structure of connector 110 also facilitates removal of the cargo
restraint bracket 22 together with cargo restraint device 20 using
the pry tab 62. The engaging member may have any other
configuration in accordance with other embodiments of the present
disclosure.
The cargo restraint bracket 22 comprises a securing surface 120 for
selectively engaging one of the peaks 30 or troughs 32 adjacent the
cargo restraint device 20 when the cargo restraint device 20 is
secured to an adjacent trough or peak. Instead, the securing
surface 120 can be secured on a flat wall such that it is adjacent
the cargo restraint device 20 when the cargo restraint assembly 10
is secured on a flat wall. The cargo restraint bracket 22 also
includes a mounting wall 122, and an interconnecting wall 124
interconnecting the securing surface 120 and the mounting wall. The
length of the mounting wall 122 is substantially the same as the
length of the lateral support walls 44. The securing surface 120
has a width the same or slightly less than each of the peak width
and trough width to facilitate engagement with the peak 30 or
trough 32. The mounting wall 122 and the interconnecting wall 124
define a slot 130 having a T-shaped opening for receiving one of
the connectors 110 of the cargo restraint device 20 for engaging
the cargo restraint device and the cargo restraint bracket 22. The
slot 130 extends the entire height of the mounting wall 122 to the
interconnecting wall 124 so that the cargo restraint bracket 22 can
be adjustably positioned relative to the cargo restraint device 20
during installation. The cargo restraint bracket 22 also includes a
plurality of gussets 132 interconnecting the securing surface 120
and the mounting wall 122 to provide strength and rigidity in a
cost effective manner. The height of the mounting wall 122 is
slightly less than the height of the lateral support wall 44 of the
cargo restraint device 20. The width of the securing surface 120 of
the cargo restraint bracket 22 is substantially the same as the
width of the securing surface 60 of the cargo restraint device 20.
The securing surface 120 may include an adhesive for securing the
securing surface selectively to one of the peaks 30 or troughs 32.
The adhesive may be in any suitable form such as the adhesive
associated with the securing surface 60. A removable release liner
may also be included. After removal of the release liner, the cargo
restraint bracket 22 can be pressed against one of the walls 16 of
the container 14 to secure it to the peak 30 or trough 32 or,
instead, to a flat wall. The cargo restraint bracket 22 may have
other configurations in accordance with other embodiments of the
present disclosure.
The illustrated embodiment of cargo restraint assembly 10 can be
used in many different applications because it can be used with
corrugated walls or flat walls of a container 14. When the cargo
restraint assembly 10 is being secured to a corrugated wall of a
container 14, the cargo restraint device 20 may be secured
selectively to one of the peaks 30 or one of the troughs 32 of the
corrugated wall 16 and to selectively engage a 2.times.4 or a
4.times.4 elongated support 12 even though the lateral dimensions
of these elongated supports may be greater than the width of each
of the peak and the trough. When the cargo restraint device 20 is
secured to a trough 32 of a corrugated wall of a container, the
sleeve member 40 can be readily received within the canyon 36
because of the configuration of the securing surface 60, the
interconnecting walls 80 and the voids 82. The cargo restraint
device 20 may be installed with the open side of cavity 50 facing
upward so that the elongated support rests on the ledge 46.
When the cargo restraint assembly 10 is instead being secured to a
flat wall of a container, the cargo restraint device 20 may be
secured on the wall to selectively engage a 2.times.4 or a
4.times.4 elongated support 12. The cargo restraint device 20 may
be installed with the open side of cavity 50 facing upward so that
the elongated support rests on the ledge 46.
The cargo restraint bracket 22 may, optionally, be secured to the
cargo restraint device 20 to provide additional strength and
stability to the cargo restraint device 20. The cargo restraint
bracket 22 may be readily installed. If the cargo restraint device
20 is secured on a peak 30, the cargo restraint bracket 22 may be
attached to one of the lateral support walls 44, slidably and
adjustably positioned such that the securing surface 120 is
positioned lower relative to the corrugated wall 16 than the
securing surface 60 of the cargo restraint device 20, and secured
to the trough 32 immediately adjacent either side of the peak. If
the cargo restraint device 20 is secured on a trough 32, the cargo
restraint bracket 22 may be attached to one of the lateral support
walls 44, slidably and adjustably positioned such that the securing
surface 120 is higher relative to the corrugated wall 16 than the
securing surface 60 of the cargo restraint device 20, and secured
to the peak 30 immediately adjacent either side of the trough. If
the cargo restraint device 20 is secured on a flat wall, the cargo
restraint bracket 22 may be attached to one of the lateral support
walls 44, slidably and adjustably positioned such that the securing
surface 120 is substantially flush with the securing surface 60 of
the cargo restraint device 20, and secured to the flat wall
immediately adjacent either side of the cargo restraint device
10.
Although the cargo restraint bracket 22 may be secured to either
lateral support wall 44 of the cargo restraint device 20 for
positioning on either adjacent side, the cargo restraint assembly
10 typically provides better load support if the cargo restraint
bracket is secured to the cargo restraint device 20 opposite the
location of the cargo. Once the cargo has reached its destination,
the elongated support 12 can be readily separated from the cargo
restraint assembly 10 using pry slot 100. Additionally, the cargo
restraint assembly 10, including the cargo restraint bracket 22,
can be readily separated from the corrugated wall 16 using the pry
tab 62 of the cargo restraint device 20, which is facilitated by
the connectors 110.
The cargo restraint assembly 10 may have any suitable dimensions
depending on the dimensions of the corrugations of the corrugated
walls 16 and depending on the dimensions of the selected elongated
support 12. For example, the dimensions of the cargo restraint
assembly 10 can complement the dimensions of the corrugated walls
16 of the type containers used by rail owned or rail associated
carriers such as, for example, Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific,
CSX, BNSF, CN, or CP, and can be configured to selectively receive
a wood 2.times.4 or a 4.times.4. With this embodiment, the width of
the cavity 50 may be about 35/8 inches; the width of the base 42 as
measured from the outsides of the lateral support walls 44 may be
about 3 15/16 inches; the width of each of the securing surface 60
of the cargo restraint device 20 and the securing surface 120 of
the cargo restraint bracket 22 may be about 25/8 inches, the length
of the securing surface 60 of the cargo restraint device 20 may be
about 7.62 inches; the length of the securing surface 120 of the
cargo restraint bracket 22 and the lengths of the lateral support
walls 44 and the mounting wall 122 are each about 5.56 inches.
The cargo restraint assembly 10 is more effective than prior art
products because it can perform well in railcars, semi-trailers or
other containers 14 having corrugated walls 16 and also can instead
be used with flat walls. Because of the configuration of the cargo
restraint device 10 and the cargo restraint bracket 22, the cargo
restraint assembly 10 is easy to install such that each of the
cargo restraint device and the cargo restraint bracket 22 is
secured to either a peak 30 or trough 32 of the corrugated walls 16
or to a flat wall and the cargo restraint assembly is able to
withstand substantial cargo loads. Additionally, the cargo
restraint device 20 is configured to engage different sized
elongated supports 12 especially where the widths of the peaks and
troughs may be less than the lateral dimension of the elongated
support. The cargo restraint devices 20 also are configured such
that the elongated supports 12 can be readily pried away and
separated from the sleeve members 40 and such that the cargo
restraint devices 20 can also be readily removed from the
corrugated walls 16.
The present disclosure also includes a method for engaging the
elongated support 12 for restraining cargo in the container 14. The
method may include securing to one of the walls of the container
the sleeve member 40. If the wall is corrugated, this may include
selectively securing the sleeve member to one of the peaks or one
of the troughs. The method also includes engaging the sleeve member
and the cargo restraint bracket 22 by, for example, selectively
inserting one of the connectors 110 into the slot 130 of the cargo
restraint bracket and securing the securing surface of the bracket
to the wall which, if the wall is corrugated, includes selectively
securing the securing surface 120 of the bracket to the other one
of the peaks or one of the troughs. The method includes adjustably
positioning the bracket relative to the sleeve member 40 by sliding
the bracket 22 relative to the sleeve member and inserting the end
of the elongated support 12 into the cavity 50 to engage the
elongated support and the sleeve member. These steps may be
performed with another cargo restraint assembly 10 on the other
wall of the container.
While embodiments have been illustrated and described in the
drawings and foregoing description, such illustrations and
descriptions are considered to be exemplary and not restrictive in
character, it being understood that only illustrative embodiments
have been shown and described and that all changes and
modifications that come within the spirit of the disclosure are
desired to be protected. The description and figures are intended
as illustrations of embodiments of the disclosure, and are not
intended to be construed as having or implying limitation of the
disclosure to those embodiments. There are a plurality of
advantages of the present disclosure arising from various features
set forth in the description. It will be noted that alternative
embodiments of the disclosure may not include all of the features
described yet still benefit from at least some of the advantages of
such features. Those of ordinary skill in the art may readily
devise their own implementations of the disclosure and associated
methods, without undue experimentation, that incorporate one or
more of the features of the disclosure and fall within the spirit
and scope of the present disclosure and the appended claims.
* * * * *